Grease testing machine



Jan. 4, 1938.

. FIGJ.

P. M JUNKIN 2,104,163 GREASE TESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1934 6Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Paul Junk/n lr/s ATTORNEY- Jan. 4, 1938.

.FIG.2.

P. M JUNKIN GREASE TESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1954 gas 6 Sheets-Sheet2 I Ell E HIIZ HI INVENTOR- ATTORNEY .Jan. 4, 1938. McJUNKIN 2,104,163

. GREASE TESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.4..

4/5 ATTORNEY? Jan. 4, 1938. p, McJUNKlN 2,104,163

I GREASE TESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1934 e Shegts-Sheefc 4 Jan. 4,1938. P. M JUNKIN 2,104,163

GREASE TESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 F I612. v

lleji. W

PRESSUR! BY fi AW ATTORNEY Jan.'4, 1938. ,P N |cJUNK|N v 2,104,163

' GREAYSE TESTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 1, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 T'HPEMTUERECWH PRESSURE bar/TFO! 5N7" #ECORDE'R FIGJS.

REGULATOR MOTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 4, i I- v I I g umrEofsrArTEsPATENT tame" awaits v GREASE TESTING MACHIINIE Paul Modunkin,Wrlghtsviile, Pa, assignor to The Texas Gompany, New York, N. in, acorporation oi Delaware Application November 1, 1934. Serial No. 750,924

' i'i fllaims. '(ot 265--llll) This invention relates to apparatus fortesting. determined fixed point or to be increased or deplastlcmaterials and more particularly-to a decreased uniformly at a definiterate. A perfovice for testing properties of greases under conrated plateor plunger is arranged in the chamber ditions closely simulating thosewhich would be so that it may exert a predetermined pressure, on presentinactual service. the grease in the cup, the rate of entry of the 5 Theprincipal object of the invention is to properforated plate and hencethe amount of grease vide a machine or apparatus of this type which 'fedbeing recorded or so that the perforated plate will be reasonably simplein operation and in may be advanced at a uniform rate into and whichprovision is made for carrying outtests-to through the grease and thepressure required )0 determine. various qualities and properties ofunder changing conditions of temperature re- 19 plastic materials suchasgreases, while maincorded. The platform is connected to a very tainingaccurate control over the variables which accurate scale mechanism sothat the pressure would tend to aflfect thematerial in actual service.being' exerted on the grease by the plunger may The apparatus hasbeendesigned particularly for be measured continuously. In other wordsthe the testing of driving journal lubricants, i. e., scale will measurethe resistance to the entry of 15 greases used in lubricating thedriving journals oi the plunger in the grease. Recording apparatuslocomotives. l is, provided for recording on uniformly moving In dritingjournal lubrication it is customary charts the scale readings as well asthe temperato have a cake of grease forced toward and ture readings inthe grease chamber. Through 20 against the drive shaft by means of asuitable the use of the machine it is also possible to study compressionspring. A perforated metal plate is the relation of temperature,consistency and rate mounted next to the shaft and the grease is of feedof the grease. Atypical test is as follows: forced by the compressionspring through the A sample of the grease is out directly from theperforations in the plate into contact with the cake or lump withoutdisturbing the conditions of shaft. the grease or giving it any extraworking. This It is often desirable to determine just what applies bothto pressed greases and to unpressed changes a grease undergoes in thelubricator or greases so that the testis made upon the grease grease boxof a driving journal. For instance, a in the condition in which it isreceived. This very soft grease, when placed in the grease box block ofgrease-contained within four metal walls I 3 would necessarily 'feedthrough the perforated is of the exact horizontal dimensions tocorreplate too rapidly when the bearing becomes heated spond with anelement" ofrthestandard driving in service, since the compression springwould be journal perforated plate. The upper surface of relatively toostrhng. On the other hand, a hard the block of-grease is then-subjectedto pressure grease would not be fed out too rapidly unless it by theeven and regular depression of a perforated had a very low softeningpoint, in which case it steel plate or plunger of the same thickness and35 would show satisfactory consumption at low temhaving perforationsidentical to those in the peratures, but too high a consumption when thestandard perforated plate used in driving journal temperature reached.the. soitening point of the grease boxes. The peripheral edges of thegrease. An ideal lubricant, therefore, would be plunger plate arebeveled since this substantially I 40 one which-would maintain itsconsistency over a eliminates the element of sidefriction and leaves 40.wide temperature range. only the resistance ofthe grease passingthrough Actual tests of greases on locomotives in reguthe holes. Therate of depression of the plunger lar operation would naturally furnishthe demay be substantially that of the average con-- sired data, butsuch tests are obviously impracti-- sumption' of the grease in actualservice.

cable and out of the question. The present appa- During application ofthis pressure, the block. 5

, ratus has beenprovided, therefore, to give definite of greasein itscontainer is supported upon 9. information as to theexactbehavior ofdifferent small scale-platform so connected as to autogreases when usedunderconditions substantially matlcally indicate and. record at alltimes the the same as those in actual service in driving pressurerequired tosco'mpel the grease to squeeze ioiirnallubrication. y throughthe holes/0f the plunger. This mecha- 5 din ca groutthe invention, amachine has nism is enclosed in 'afcooling or heating chamber dedimwhichthe grease sample conautomatically controlled sq that the temperatureknallfcu'p is mounted on a platform in rises steadily'at the rate of onedegree Fahrenheit ef'ternperature of which may. be per minute. The roomtemperature and the temeither-to'be maintained at a preperatures of thechamberand of the grease itself pyrometers.

are observed from time to time .by suitable This test will bereferred tohereinafter as the constant rate of entry test.

The apparatus is also capable of being utilized to conduct other tests.For instance, the temperature in the grease chamber may be caused torise at a uniform rate while a predetermined pressure is constantlymaintained between the perforated plunger and the grease. This may becalled the constant pressure-increasing temperature test. Again, aconstant temperaturemaximum initial pressure test may be made bymaintaining. the grease chamber temperature constant while a maximumpressure-is initially placed on the plunger, the grease being allowed toflow through the plunger while the pressure decreases accordingly untilthat pressure is reached at which the grease ceases to flow. Stillother-tests such, for instance, as constant temperature-constant rate ofentry may be run to determine further desired characteristics.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation partly in section of .the grease.testing machine, taken on line l-l of Figure 2. I

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the grease testing machine partly insection and taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the grease chamber on line 33 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3a is a view of the perforated plunger plate taken on line 3a3aof Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a portion of the driving mechanism online 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view partly in section of the resistance contactingmechanism taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a view partly in section of the cams in the pressureindicating mechanism taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view taken on line Figures 12, 13 and 14are typical curvesasplotted by the grease testing machine.

Figure. 15 is a diagram of the electrical connections in which the 110volt A. C. circuits are shown in heavy lines and the 10 volt D. C.circuits in light lines.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, the apparatus isshown as being enclosed for the mostpart in a casing I which may be ofmetal or some other suitable material and which is provided with a basel2 and a horizontal partition which serves to divide the case into twoparts. A plurality of vertical posts 15 serve to support the upper wallof the casing as well as the partition l4.

H eating chamber Mounted on the top of the casing. I0 is a smallercasing I6 the walls of which are preferably formed of sheet metalwiththe space between the metal sheets filled with a suitable heatinsulating material l8. The heat resisting walls of the casing provide aheating chamber or oven 20 and provisions are made for maintaining thetemperature in this chamber at any predetermined degree or forincreasing or decreasing the temperature uniformly as desired.

Supported within the chamber 20 is a cylindrical member 22 shown moreclearly in Figure 3 of the drawings. The cylinder 22 is supported fromthe upper wall of the casing Why a pair of annular rings 24, these ringsbeing connected by a plurality of heat resisting rods or posts 28. Theupper ring 24 is suitably bolted to the upper -wall of the casing I6'andthe cylinder 22 is connected to and depends from the lower ring 24. Asis shownin Figure 1 an' electric motor 28 is supported on the top of thecasing l8 by means of suitable brackets 30. The shaft of the motor 28extends downwardly through the upper wall of the casing l8 and at thelower end of the motor shaft is attached a fan 32 having a hub 38. Anelectrical resistance element 38 is wound in a spiral around the heatresisting posts 26 and this heating element comprises the means formaintaining the temperature within the chamber 20 either at a constantpoint or for varying the temperature at any predetermined rate.

Within the chamber 20 and partially surrounded and protected by thecylinder 22 are mounted the grease container or cup 48 and a perforatedplate or plunger which is adapted to enter and pass through the greasein the container as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

The plunger plate 42 is provided-with a beveled outer edge as will beobserved with reference to Figure 3, the purpose of this being to reduceto an absolute minimumf any friction between the plunger plate and theinner wallsof the grease area of the holes bear the same ratio to thearea.

of the plunger as the area of the holes in the standard plate bear tothe area of that plate.

The grease container which is square in cross section is provided with asharpened or beveled lower edge 43 and'is supported upon a plate 44mounted in turn upon another plate 48. Through the provision of thebeveled lower edge 43 on the grease cup 18, it is possible to cut ablock of grease directly from a sample without disturbing the conditionsof the grease in any manner." The plate 46 is secured at its center tothe. upper e'nd of a rod 48 which rod extends I downwardly through theheat insulated lower wall {of the casing l6 and thetop of the casingIII.

In case it is desired to reduce the temperature of the chamber 20 belowroom temperature, means are provided in the form of a. coil of tubing 45which may be cooled by circulating therethrough a refrigerating mediumsuch as cold brine or cold carbon dioxide gas derived from liquid COL.As is shown-in Figures 1 and 2 the coil. 45 is mounted in the upperportion of. the chamber 20 opposite the electrical heating element 38.The flow of the refrigerating medium may be controlled in any suitableway suchasby thermostats, not shown, in a manner similar to the controlof the electrical resistance heater 88, which control will bedescribed-hereinafter. Cold tests may thus be made on greases intendedto be used on refrigerating machinery or for winter '76 temperatures.

' n accurately.

around the grease cup 4llreturning upwardly within the cylinder 22 tothe fan 32. Through this arrangement the air within the chamber 20 willbe kept constantly in circulation and the temperatures at all pointswithin the chamber will be substantially the same and the temperature ofthe grease in the cup 40 will vary directly in accordance with theamount of heat emitted f from the resistance element 38 or absorbed bythe cooling coil .45.

' As willbe observed with reference to Figure 1, a tube 41 extendingoutwardly from the cylinder "to a point outside of the casing l6 andprovided near its outer end with a glass window, not

shown, serves to permit visual inspection of the grease in the cup 40while a test is being conducted. In order to' prevent any sidewise move-"ment of the grease cup 40, a thin metallic strip or band 49 secured atits center to the upper end 01 the rod 48 is attached at its ends to apair of posts secured to the lower wall of the chamber 20. Due to theflexibility of. the strip 49 the upward and downward motion of thegrease cup 40 will not be interfered with while at the same time anytendency of the cup to move sidewise will be prevented. I

, Pressure indicating mechanism Arranged substantially horizontallywithin the casing I0 is a scale beam it which is pivotally supported bymeans oi a spring clip St at one end on a bracket 52 mounted on thepartition Id. The spring clip 5i consists of a short strip of springmetal having lugs attached to its ends, the lugs fitting in suitableopenings in the scale 40' beam and the bracket 52. The lower end of therod 48 isenlarged as at 53 and vis also pivotally attached by means of asimilar spring clip (shown in Figures 1 and 4)' to the scale beam 58 ata point near the leit-handend of 5 the beamas viewed in Figure 1. Acounter weight 54 is adjustably mounted by means of a threadedconnection on the left-hand end oi? the beam 50.

The outer or right hand end of the scale beam 50 "is provided with anadjusting screw 55 and p to the upper; end of thescrew; 5 5 isattached aflexible strip 56 extending upwardly and'around an arc-shaped cam 58shown more clearly in Figuresfi and 11. 55 58.18 secured to one end ofthe cam 58. The cam 58 is secured 'to 'a cam shaft 60 which shaft ismounted between and pivotally supported by brackets 82 and 84 whichbrackets are secured to the underside of the upper wall of the casing mN, as shown in Figure 1;, At one end-of the cam shaft 68 is-secured apointer 66 which co-' I operates with the scale 88 to be described ,indetail-h nafter. Ailixed to one end of the cam ,,shait 88 s-a'collar 89and secured to this collar is a threaded .rod ll projecting radially andin parallel alignment with the pointer set A suitable weig'ht Iliathreaded on the rodli, this weight serving" as a coimterbalance for theweight or the pointer 186. The weig t 1s 1 70 Justable longitudinally ofthe rod Il-andthe collar 89 can be rotatably'a'djusted on the shaft 60and locked by means of asuitable set screw. It can be seen, therefore,that throughthis arrangement the'pointercan be counterbalanced very2,1o4,1es

. larger values on the same scale.

The upper end of the strip The cam shaft 88 has attached thereto twoother arc-shaped cams I0 and 12 similar in contour to the cam 58, thesecamsbe'ing arranged substantially at 45 to each other. At the upper endsof the cams I0 and 12 are attached flexible 5 strips 14 and .16respectively. Thestrips l4 and 16 extend downwardly and each is securedto one of a pair of levers 18 pivotally mounted as at 86 on thepartition It. A weight8Z is threaded on the'outer end of each lever 18and can be adlib justed toward or-away from the pivot to vary thetension in the strips 14 audit. Qnly' one of the levers l8 and one,weight 82 are shown in Figure 1 of the drawings but it is to beunderstood that the other weight and lever are located, 15

directly in back of the one shown. ity is neces sary tohave some slighttension on the strip 5t and this is accomplished by the action of theweight attached to the strip .16. In adjusting the machine the weight ofthe beam 5% is partly 20 counterbalanced by the weight 82 -attached tothe strip 16 and partly by the counterweight tit.

Therefore, that part of the weight of the beam dd which is balanced bythe weight 82 attached to the strip It must be compensated by applying 2applied to the grease by the plate or plunger-d2 3i) and transmittedtothe beam 50 through the'rod 1% and link at. 3

Through the'use oi the series of cams having the particular shape andarrangement shown in Figures l. and 6, readings on the scale 68 maybeam. 35 tained 'which will be v pry accurateon the small values at thelower en of the scale and at the same time accurate to be same degree onthe For instance. at the lower portion of the scale the pointer 66 may40 be moved two millimeters by a change in weight or pressure on thegrease in the cup 42 of one gram while in the upper portion of the scalethe same distance may correspond to'a change in weight or pressure; ofone kilogramx It is-thus possible 45 to determine; a pressure through avery wide range with approximately equal percentage of accuracythroughout the entire range. With the mechanism here described the firstfew grams could be read to gram or better than 1% ac- 50 curacy-while inthe upper portion of the scale millimeter would represent perhaps 100grams, again with 1% accuracy. a

Forming part of the mechanism to be used when it is desired to maintaina predetermfnedbonstant 5 pressure between the perforated plunger 42 andthe grease in the cup 40, an adjustable stop or contact arm 84 isprovided, this arm bei'ng secured to a disc 86 to which disc is alsosecured'a hub 83.

The bracket 64 has a cut-out portion in-which' 4 the hub 88 is fitte thebracket thus acting as a bearing for the hu and disc 86. The disc andhub 88 are provided with a center opening through which the cam shaft 6ipasses. The hub 18 is provided with a'peripheral. groove 90 whichcooperates with a setscrew 82 to prevent longitudinal movement of thehub. Disc 86' andhub 88 arethus co-axiai with the cam shaft 8-! andserve to pivotally-support the arm 88.

or teeth 84 adapted to cooperate with aworm --96 on a shaft dependingfrom and journaled in The disc 88 is provided at one side with a-set orthreads this button in the proper direction the contact arm 84 may thusbe moved either clockwise or counterclockwise.

The outer end of the contact arm 84 is pro- 6 vided with a springcontact strip I secured at one end to a pin I02 on thearm 84 andnormally resting against or contacting with a contact pin I04 alsosecured to but electrically insulated from the arm 84. A pin orprojection I06 of electrically 10 insulating material is secured to thepointer 66 in alignment with the strip I00. It will thus be seen thatafter the contact arm 84 has been adjusted to a predetermined positionwith the pin I06 holding the spring I00 away from the pin I04, if thepointer should tend to fall below the position of the arm 84, anelectrical contact will be made between the spring I00 and the pin I04to thus complete an electrical circuit to be described hereinafter.It'is to be understood that the mechanism described in this paragraph isnot used when a constant rate of entry test is being run; since in thattest it is the variable pressure exerted between the plunger 42 and thegrease in the cup 40 which is to be noted and recorded. When conductingthe constant rate of entry test the arm 84 will be turned upwardly outof the range of the pointer 66.

Secured to the underside of the upper wall of the casing I0 is anarc-shaped scale supporting member I08 to which is afiixed the scale 68.The scale is, of course, of a shape to correspond with the path of theouter end of the pointer 66 and may contain suitable indicia denotingthe pressure exerted upon the grease in the cup or container 40. Inorder that the pressure being exerted upon the grease in the containermay be recorded at predetermined intervals, an arrangement is providedwhereby the exactposition of the pointer 66 with relation to the scale68 may be accurately 40 indicated on the pressure recorder IIO shown inthe wiring diagram of Figure 15. As is shown in Elgures 1 and 5, anelectrical potentiometer II2 of the same shape as the scale 68 ismounted a slight distance from the outer edge of the scale 4,5.andsecured at its extremity to the plate I08.

This potentiometer is preferably formed of 'a winding of suitableresistance wire wound upon a core of insulating material. The outer endof the pointer 66 has attached thereto a contact mem- 50 her II4 adaptedto be forced against and to make electrical contact with thepotentiometer II It In order to force the pointer contact I I4 againstthe potentiometer I I2 at predetermined intervals,

" a pair of electro-magnets H6 and an armature I II are suitablymountedv on the back of the plate I88. The armature H8 isin the form ofan arm rigidly secured at one end to a shaft I20 pivotally mounted inbrackets I22 attached to the throughout--its -length directly in frontof the ;potentiometer'."; v

gfflie particular iconsiguction of the pressure recorder I I-,0 (Figure15) does not form a-partof the inventiori and it is of any suitable typecon- 75 taining.means rorenergizing the electro-magnets pointer contactII4 forcing the latter =into engagement and electrical contact with thepotentiometer II2. The potentiometer H2 and the pointer 66 are connectedin circuit with the pres- 1o sure recorder IIO, the arrangement beingsuch that each time the contact is made between the pointer 66 and thepotentiometer II2, the instrument IIII will record the position of thepointer withrespect to the scale 68 and thus the pressure being exertedat that particular instant on the grease in the container 40.

Driving mechanism In order to force the plunger 42 into and 20 throughthe grease contained in the cup 40, an electric motor I34 is mounted inthe lower por-v tion of the casing I0 and may be connected to theplunger 42 through the mechanism which will now be described. 25

As will be observed with reference to Figure 3, the plunger plate 42 isattached to a rod I36 which is rigidly secured to and suspended from ayoke I38. The ends of the yoke I38 are suitably attached to a pair ofpull rods I40 which extend downwardly within the casing I0 and aresimilarly attached at their lower ends to another yoke I42 which issecured at its midpoint to the upper end of a vertically disposed screwI44. The bottom or lower wall I46 of the upper casing I6 is providedwith a pair of upwardly projecting hearing guides I48 having flangedlower ends I50 for engagement with the heat insulated wall I46. Theguides are secured in position by means of a pair of threaded nuts' I52and a suitable washer I54.

The bracket 52 which supports one end of the scale beam 50 is generallytubular in shape and is provided along its sides with a pair oflongitudinal slots I56.. As is shown in Figure 4, the

. tubular bracket 52 normally encloses the upper end of the screw I44and the slots I56 serve to guide the yoke I42 in its vertical movement.An internally threaded sleeve I58 has its upper end journaled in-a hubI60 depending from the partition I4 and its lower end journaled in abracket I62 also attached to the partition I4. A threaded wheel I64 isrigidly. secured to the sleeve I58.by means of suitable set screwsbetween the bracket members I60 and I62, and between the hub of thewheel I64 and the bracket I is an antifriction thrust bearing I66 of theusual ball bearing type. It will .be seen that the sleeve I58 isprevented :from longitudinal movement and the rotation of this sleevewill, therefore, cause the screw I44 threaded therein to move up or downdepending upon the direction of rotation. The

lower end of the sleeve I58 is provided witha ing the sleeve. The end ofthe worm shaft II2 aromas opposite the worm I10 has-secured thereon agear I80, this gear normally meshing with a smaller drivi g gear I82. Itwill be seen that when the arm. I18 is moved angularly the eccen- 5 tricsleeve I14 will be turned and the worm I'l0 will be disengaged from thewheel I84 and at the same timethe driven gear I80 will be separated fromthe driving gear I82. As shown in Figures 7'and 9 the eccentric I14 isprovided with an en- 10 circling groove I 84"adapted to be engaged .by/asmall pointed plunger I86 forced against the co centric by a compressionspring I86; when it is desired to withdraw the plunger 42 upwardly fromthe grease container 40 the worm 15 I10 is disengaged from the wheel I64in the manner setdorth and the knurled disc I68 may then be turned byhand in a direction to raise the screw I44 and consequently the plunger42. The. spring pressed plunger I86 serves to hold the eccentric '20 I14in any positien in which it may be turned by the arm I18.

The gear m is secured to a shaft I90, the ends of which are journaled inbearings provided in a,

.pair of brackets 2 fromthe partition ,I.4. Adjacent the gear I82 andsecuredto the shaft I90 is a larger gear I94 and on the opposite side ofthe left hand bracket I92 and also secured to the shaft I90 is asmallergear "I96. v The shaft I9-0,is threaded throughout sub- 30 stantiallyall of its length between the-brackets I92 for a purpose which will bedescribed hereinafter.

- The shaft I98 of the driving motor I34 is connected by 30 reductiongear box 202 to one side of a clutch 204.

The-outer or left hand end of the motor shaft I98 is journaled in abracket bearing 2,06 and aflix'ed to the shaft at a point adjacentthebracket 206 is one side of a second clutch 208. Slidably A mounted o'nthe motor shaft I98 is a. short tubular shaft 2H] and secured to one endof this shaft is the other half of the clutch 204. Aflixed to the otherend of the shaft 2.I0 is the other half 2I2 of the second clutch. Alsosecured to the shaft 45 2I0 are a pair of gears 2l4 and 2I6. A clutchthe wall I2 of-the casing I0-is provided with a pin 220 adapted toengage in a groove; not shown, in

the clutch member 2I2. A pin 22I cooperating .50 with a pair'of holes,in a bracket'223. is adapted to hold the lever 2I8 in either of itsextreme positions. In the View shown in Figure l the lever M8 is in itsleft hand position with the clutch members 208 and 2l2 engaged and thesmall gear 2- meshing with the larger gear I94. The motor I34 I willthus rotate the gear I94 and through the 1 gearing shown in Figure theshaft I12 will also rotate, thus driving the worm I10 and worm wheel AI64. As has" been explained hereinbefore the ro- 00 tation of the wormwheel I64 will cause the pere.

forat'ed plunger 42 to be lowered into and through the grease containedin the cup 40.

- Mechanism for, maintaining a constant pressure on the grease beingtested ln-case it is desired to run a constant pressure.-.test themechanism now to-bedescribed will'be utilized. As will be observed withreferj ence more particularly to Figures 7 and 8, a rod 70 422 2ismounted between and has its ends secured in the-brackets I92, the rod222 forming. a supfora slider shown in Figure 8. Also sup- ,D rtO by andmounted between the brackets I92" is a potentiometer 224, this device'preferably 76 comprisinga winding of bare'electri'cal resist- I92secured to. and depending means. of a coupling 200 and a 'suitable'-lever 2I8'pivota1ly mounted at its lower end on ance wire on a rod 226and being similar, elec-,

tricaliy, to the potentiometer II2 described previously. Thepotentiometer resistance is, of course, suitably insulated from the rod226, pro- 'vidi-ng the latter is metallic, and the" endsof the windingare secured in place bymeans of suitable clamps 228..

The slider shown generally at 280 in Figure 8 consists of .an insulatedblock 232 having mounted transversely therethrough a short tube 284. Thetube 234'.fits closely upon and is adapted to slide along the supportingrod 222. The insulating-bloek 232 has attached thereto a pair of springarms- 236 and 238, theouter or free end of the arm 236 having attachedthereto a split nut 240, this member being threaded at242 to engage theaforementioned threads on the shaft an enlargement 244 adapted to Fromthe foregoing description it will be seen that as the shaft I90revolves, the split nut 240' and consequently the entire slider 230 willmove along the guide" rod 222 and an eletfirical contact will be madebetween the spring arm 288 and the potentiometer 224 inall positions.The split nut .240 is preferably provided with an extension arm 246which may be raised by hand and held by a hook 248 attached to thepartition I4. Thus the split nut 240 may be disconnected from. therevolving shaft 490 when a constant pressure" test is not beingconducted.

. a General features In the operation of the grease testingmachine it iser course essential, as hasbeen pointed out hereinbefore, that the wallsof (the heating chamber 20 be well insulated so that the temperaturetherein may be controlled accurately. It is also essential that thetemperature within the casing Ill be maintained. fairly constant and'inorder that heat from the chamber 20 may be prevented from entering thecasing I0 through the upper' ,wall thereof; the casing I6 is separatedfrom the casing I0 by means of an air chamber 250. .The casingsurrounding the air chamber 250- is provided with aplurality ofopenings'252 and a plurality of vent pipes 254 leading downwardly from."the chamber 2!! lead to a duct 256 opening into 260 attached to theupper wall of a fan chamber the casing 10;: An electric motor 260suspended from the 'casing258 serves to drive an exhaust fan, not shown,within the chamber 258. The

motor 260 in driving the exhaust fan draws air i at atmospherictemperature into the chamber 250 through the openings 252and into thefan chamr her 258* through the pipes 254' and the duct 256. The ,air isthen blown out of the chamber 258 through an opening 262 in the backwallof the casing I0. Thus, by, constantly drawing air at roomtemperature into the chamber 250'the 'possibility that heat maypassdownwardly from the chamber 20 into the casing I0 stantiallynegligible. v

Electrical connections and operation 1 prising Figure 15 of the drawingsit will be seen that there are twomain circuits, first, a 110 voltalternating current circuit having its source at 212 and, second, a'10'volt direct current circuit i r'need u-' s edr sb With reference tothe wiring diaphragm com having itssource at 214. .The volt A: C.circuit includes, of course, the plunger driving mot ll. I14. the ovenfan motor 94, the ventilating fan motor-260 and the heating unit 38 inthe oven chamber, while the 10 volt DFC. circuit includes the controlequipment such as certain relays and other contact devices to beexplained.

The enclosure designated by the dotted line indicates the heating oroven chamber 20 and within this chamber will be observed the fan of themotor 34, the heating element 38, a pair of small electric lamps 216 and211, as well as the grease container or test cup 40 and its associatedplunger 42; The driving connection for the plunger 42 is indicateddiagrammatically by the rod I40. The oven fan motor 34 is shown asconnected through the multi-point plug switch 218, the switch S6 and acircuit breaker 280 to the 110 volt A. C. line. The lamps 216 and 211which are used for lighting the interior of the chamber 20 so that thegrease may be viewed through the tube 41 (Figure 1), are connected tothe source 214 through the multi-point plug switch '218, switches .37and S3, and the circuit breaker 280 which is also connected in the 10volt D. C. circuit. The ventilating fan motor 260 is connected in the110 volt A. C. circuit through the switch S2 and the circuit breaker280. The plunger driving motor I34 and a motor 282 which serves to drivethe pressure recorder 0 and the temperature regulator 284" are connectedin the 110 volt A. C. circuit through the switch S1 and the circuitbreaker 280, the plunger driving motor I34 also having in its circuitthe relay' switch 286, the operation of which will be explainedhereinafter.

Connected to the temperature regulator 284 is a a thermocouple 288located within the oven chamber 20. The temperature regulator 284 isalso connected through the multi-point plug switch 290 to the energizingcoil of a relay 292 which relay is connectedto the heating element J38lin' the oven chamber 20. The purpose of the multi-point plug switches218 and 290 is to make it easier to assemble and disassemble theapparatus. Switch 218 is placed in the connections to theheating or ovenchamber 20 and the switch 290 is located in the connections to thetemperature regulator 284and the pressure or rate of entry recorder 0..It is understood, of course,

that one half of each of these switches is pro- 'vided withprongs whichfit within correspondingly spaced openings or sockets in the other half,and the switches are disconnected merely by pulling the twohalves apart.The temperature regulator isusually provided with a'manually operabledial and the arrangement is such that by'proper adjustment of the dialthis instrument, which is responsive through the thermocouple 288 to thetemperature existing in the oven chamber 20, will control theenergization of the heating element 38 -so as either to maintain thetemperature in the oven at a predetermined fixed point or to increase ordecrease thetemperature therein at a predetermined uniform rate.

A temperature recorder 294 has connected thereto a thermocouple 296responsive to the temperature in the ovenchamber 20; a thermocouple 298attached to the grease container 40 so as to be responsive to thetemperature of the grease therein and a thermocouple 300 which islocated outside of the machine so as toindicate the temperature of theroom in which the machine is being operated. The pressure recorder III],the temperature regulator 284 and the temperature recorder 294 are allinstruments which may be purchased in the market and their construction,therefore, forms no part of this inventionI The pressure recorder H0 andthe temperature recorder 294 are of the type in which a. paper chart iscaused to move past a suitable pen or other marking device at apredetermined uniform speed. The charts showing the amount of pressureexerted between the plunger 42 and the grease in the cup 40- and theamount or rate of entry of the plunger into the grease cup are madedirectly on the pressure or rate of entry recorder IIO while thetemperatures indicated by the thermocouples 296, 298 and 300 are plottedon a chart by the temperature recorder 294. A storage battery or drycells 301 are connected to the pressure or rate of entry recorder H0 andserve as a current supply for the circuits including the magnets I I6and the potentiometers H2 and 224. A plurality of electrical contactdevices are mounted in the testing machine and are connected to acircuit breaker 280. One of these contact devices 302 is shown in Figure15 as being mounted adjacent the upper end or the potentiometer H2 in amanner such that in the event that the pressure exerted by the plunger42 on the grease in the cup 40 should become so great that the pointer66 of the scale mechanism should tend to move past the end of thepotentiometer H2, the pointer will engage and close the contacts.Another contact device 304 is mounted near the end of the potentiometer224 for a like purpose, 1. e., so that in case the slider 239 shouldmove to theextremeleft hand end'of the potentiometer the contact.will beclosed. Still another similar contact device 306 is showndiagrammatically as mountd in a position to be actuated by the plungerdriving mechanism I40 when the plunger has reached the bottom of the cup40. The contact devices 302, 304 and-306 are connected in circuit withthe magnet coil 308 and these conditions will obtain whenever a constantrate of entry test is being run, thatris, when it is desired to recordthe pressures exerted between the plunger 42 and the grease in the cup40 when the plunger is being moved uniformly into the cup. When theswitches S9, S10 and S11- are moved to their lower position the poten-'tiometer 224 will be connected in circuit withthe pressure or rate ofentry recorder H0, in place of the potentiometer II2, andv with theseconnections the instrument I I0 will record the amount or rate of entryof the plunger 42 into the grease test cup 40 when ajqonstantpredetermined pressure is being maintained between the plunger and thecup.

Let it be assumed that it is desired to run a constant rate of entrythat it is desired to determine the pressures exertedby the plunger-42on the grease in the cup 40 while the plunger is being forced into andthrough the grease at a uniform rate and while at the same time thetemperature within the oven chamber 20 is raised uniformly at a rate ofsay 1 Fahrenheit per minute. A sample of grease is out directly from thecake that is to be tested,

test or, in other words,

aromas.

using the cup or container 40 to do the cutting in order that the greaseto be tested may not be disturbed and to avoid any extra working of the.grease. The container and grease sample are then placed on the plate 44,thisplate being con-v wheel I64 by turning the arm T18 and thus theeccentric I14 and the knurled disc I68 is turned in a direction suchthat the plunger plate 42 will be" lowered into the grease in the cup 40until the grease begins to feed through-perforations in the plunger. Theeccentric I1 is then 4 turned so as to again bring the worm"=l'|0 andthe" worm wheel I64 into engagement. The

switchessl, S2, S3, S5, Ss, S1"and 83 are closed and the switches S9,Sim-and S11 are moved to the upper position as viewed in Figure'15. Clutch shift lever 2! will be moved and locked in its left hand positionby means-of the pin 22I and the motor I34 driving through its shaftI98,- the clutch members 208 and 2I2, the gears 2I4, I94,

I82 and I80 willrotate the worm I10 and w or m wheel I64. The rotationof the sleeve I-68 will' cause the screw I44 to move do'wnwardly'andthus the plunger plate 42 will be lowered into the cup 40' at a constantrate, usually a few thousandths of an inch per hour.

The force caused by the resistance of the grease to the plunger 42will'be transmitted from the platform plate 44 t6 the scale beam andthus to the pointer 66. by meansoi' the flexible strip 56. The po nter66* will thus be deflected and the position of the pointer with respectto the pointer 66..

corder I I0 will cause'the magnets II6 to be ener-j scale 68 willindicate the amount of the force exerted byv the plunger inpenetratingthe grease. Naturally the higher the force necessary for theplunger to O gi'eater will bethe'defle'ction' of the indicator Duringthis time the pressure regized periodically, preferably" every fewseconds. and each time the magnets are energized the pointer 66 will bepulled laterally; into contact with the potentiometer poi] U2 by meansof the arms I26 and-rod I30 shown in Figure 5.' As

willbe observed from an inspection of the elec-' trical diagramcomprising Figure 15, the pointer 66 is also connected in the circuit ofthe pressuie recorder H0 and thus-each time the pointer pass through thegrease sample, the

opening 262m order to prevent the transfer of heat from the oven chamber20 to the'interior of the larger casing where such heat might atfect theinstruments to cause them to register, improperly. Even temperaturedistribution with,- in the-oven chamber 20 is maintained by .the fandriven by the motor 34. l

A chart illustrating the test described in the foregoing paragraphs isshown in Figure 12 of the drawings. This chart is to be read from righttoleft, the pressures measuredby the instrument IIO being indicatedalong the vertical axis whiletime is. measured along'the horizontalaxis.

, untilthe pointer 66 registers a desired pressure further movement ofthe plunger 42 into the contact II4 engages the potentiometer I I2 thepressure recorder I I0 will cause-a mark to be made on the customarymoving chart referred to hereinbefore. A continuous record wm thus hemade of the varying pressures indicated by the scale mechanism 50- 66..jg r lQuring' the above described operation. the arm 84 will have beenmovedupwardly and out of the range of the pointer 66. Should for anyvreason the pointer 66 tend to move upwardly be yond the potentiometercoil H2 or should the plunger reach the contact devices 7 7 closed, thusopening the circuit breaker-280 and stopping the plunger driving motor.During all of the operationso far described the fan motor 260 will-drawairinto the chamber 260 and exhaust the same from the casing l0 throughthe the bottom M the test cup 40 302 or 806 respectively will be t Itwill be obvious from this chart that 'at the beginning of the'test thepressure on the grease increased rapidly'for a comparatively short timeup to thepoint marked a; after which the grease became softer due to theincrease in temperature within the oven chamber 20. The presv sures onthe grease then decreased gradually 0' until such a temperature wasreached that the grease-flowed through the plunger 42 at zero pressureindicating the end of the run. e

Let us now. assume thatit is desired torun a .constantpressure-increasing temperature test. 25

The sample of grease is cut and placed on the platform plate 44 inthe'same manner as for. the "constant rate of entry test-alreadydescribed. The plunger 42 is then lowered by hand of, for instance, 25lbs. The arm 84 will then be adjusted by means of the knurled nut96 andbrought into substantial alignment with the pointer 66 when the latteris indicating the predetermined pressure, i. 25 lbs. The position of thearm 84 will be 'suc that when the-pointer 66 indicates a 25 lb. pressurethe pin I06 onthe pointer will engage the contact strip I00 secured tothe end of-the arm 84 holding the strip away fromihecontact pin I04 thus.breaking the circuit to the plunger drivlngmotonflfas will befobservedwith rlitference to Figure 15. For this test. switch S; will be openedwhile 81. S2,

ment 0 in place of the potentiometer I I2.' r

the precede With' the connections described in .will be closed and-'theswitches s9. sit and su'wm be moved to their,-

ing paragraph the plunger driving motor I34-will 50 not operate and,consequently. there will be no grease in-the cup 4.0.. The clutch shiftlever 210 wlllbe moved and locked in'itsright hand position with theclutch 204 connected and with the 5 "clutch members 208 and 2I2disconnected. In

' ber 20 at a. uniform rate of l .Fahrenhelt per minute. The slider arm246 will be' disenga ed from the-hook 248 and the split nut 240 allowedtomesh with the aft I80, and'therefore 'afiy rotation of thesha t I willcause a movement of the,

slider contact 244 along the potentiometer 224:

. The pressure between the plunger-42 and the,

grease in the cup will remain c'onstanfuntil the" temperature has beenincreased sufficiently for some of tligrease to feed- -through theperfo- -"lil rations in the plunger and as soon as this happens.

. the pressure will drop and the pointer 66 will move downwardly toindicate alowen-pressure.

' when this occurs the pin I06 will move away I from the contact stripI00 allowing an electrical l6 '25 lbs.

contact to be made between that strip and the in I04.

p As will be observed with reference to Figure 15, when a contact ismade between the elements I00 and I04 the relay 286 will be actuated andthe plunger driving motor I34 will be connected in the 110 volt A. C;circuit. The motor I34 acting through the clutch 204 and the gears 2 I6and I96 will cause the screw I44 to lower the plunger 42 into thegrease, thus again increasing the pressure. As soon as the pressure hasbeen brought up to the desired amount, 1. e., 25 lbs., the pin I06 onthe pointer 66 will again open the electrical circuit between thecontact elements I00 and I04 thus causing the relay 286 to disconnectthe plungendriving motor I34 from the circuit. The pressure will, in allprobability, remain at this amount until a time when the temperaturewithin the oven chamber 20 has again-increased sumciently to cause moreof the grease to pass through the perforations in the plunger 42. Atthis point the pressure will again drop and the motor. I34 will be againconnected in the circuit so as to once more bring the pressure back tothe predetermined amount. These periods when the motor I 34 operates tolower the plunger will become increasingly more frequent until a pointis reached when the grease will flow freely through the perforations inthe plungerafter which the test will be stopped. Should the slider 230be moved toward the left so far as to reach the end of the potentiometer224 the contact device 304 shown in Figure will be actuated to open thecircuit and thus stop the driving motor I34 as has been previouslydescribed.

The chart shown in Figure 13 illustrates the test just described and itwill be observed that the curve remains horizontal from the startingpoint to the point a, this period denoting the .time elapsing betweenthe start of the test and the time when the motor I34 is first connectedto bring the pressure back to the desired amount. At the point a theeutve. is substantially vertical fora very small distance during whichtime the motor I34 was operating. Beyond the point a the curve ishorizontal thus denotingthat the pressure was again at the desiredamount of At the points b and c the'curve is again substantiallyvertical and starting at the point d the curve rises abruptly for aconsid-' erable distance thus indicating that the motor I34 was runningcontinuous while the grease flowed freely through the plunger 42.

Figure 14 is a chart typical of a constant temperature-maximum initialpressure test. This test is run in a manner quite similar to theconstant pressure-increasing temperature test but with the temperaturewithin the oven chamber maintained at a predetermined point by meansclosed while the switch S4 may remain open. The

plunger 42 will be lowered manually into the grease in the cup 40 untila predetermined maximum pressure is indicated by the pointer 66, the

arm 84 being adjusted so that the pin I06 on the pointer will engage thespring I00 tomaintain open the contact at I04 (Figure 15). The point aon the curve in Figure 14 indicates this point of initial maximumpressure. The grease is allowed to feed through the plunger plate 42while the temperature in the oven chamber remains constant as has beenalready stated. The pressure wmm all probability drop rather rapidly atfirst and will then continue to fall more gradually until it reaches apoint such as indicated at b on' the curve after which the flow 'ofgrease through the plunger becomes zero,

the pressure thereafter remaining constant. The point b will thusrepresent the yield point of the sample at the temperature at which thetest is run.

It will be obvious that the machine can be utilized for conducting stillother tests. For instance, the temperature within the oven chamber 20may be maintained constant while the motor I34 causes the plunger 42 tobe forced into the grease at a uniform rate. Again a test similar to theconstant temperature-maximum initial pressure test previously describedmay be run, setting the plunger for a maximum initial pressurebutmaintaining the oven chamber 20 at room temperature rather than at somefixed higher or lower temperature.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention, ashereinbefore set forth, may

' the lubricant in said container, means responsive to the pressureexerted on said lubricant by said plate for controlling the actuation ofsaid driving means so as to maintain a predetermined 'constant pressurebetween said plate and said lubricant as the lubricant becomes softened,due to the increasing temperature, and measuring means connected withsaid driving means for indicating the rate with which said plate movesinto and through said lubricant.

2'. In a grease testing apparatus, a grease container comprising fourside walls, a perforated plate of substantially the same area and crosssection as said container, means for manually forcing said plate intothe grease in said container uritil a predetermined pressure betweensaid plate and said grease is obtained, means for increasing thetemperature of the grease in 'said container at a predetermined uniformrate, means connected to said container for indicating the force exertedby said plate on said grease, means for driving said plate into thegrease in said container, means operated byv said indicating means forcontrolling the actuation of said driving means so as to maintain saidpredetermined pressure as the grease becomes softened due to theincreasingtemperature, and measuring means connected with said drivingmeans for indicating the rate with which said plate moves through saidgrease.

3. In a device of the character described, a container for a lubricant,a perforated plate of substantially the same area and cross section assaid container, movable supporting means for said plate arranged so thatsaid plate may be so that said plate may be driven into said 0011-,

driven into said container to bear against and be forced through alubricant contained therein,

means forincreasing the'temperature of said lubricant at a predetermineduniform rate, an electricmotor for driving said plate into saidlubricant, gearing connecting said motor and said plate supportingmeans, a scale mechanism connected to said lubricant container so as, tobe responsive to the pressure exerted by said plate upon the lubricantin said container, means associated with said scale mechanism forcontrolling the energization of said motor so as to drive said plateinto the lubricant to maintain a predepredetermined uniform rate, anelectric motor for driving said plat-e into said grease, gearingconnecting said motor and said plate supporting means, a scale mechanismconnected to said grease container so as tobe responsive to the Ipressureexerted by said plate upon the grease in said container, anelectrical contact device actuated by said scale mechanism and connectedin the circuitpf said motor, the arrangement being such that said motorwill be energized to drive said plate into said container to maintain apredetermined pressure between the plate and the grease as the greasebecomes softened due to the increasing temperature, and measuring meansoperated by said motor for indicating the rate with which said platemoves into and through said grease.

5. In a lubricant testing machine, a container for a lubricant,aperforated plate of substantially the same area and cross section assaid container, movable supporting means for said plate arranged so thatsaid plate may enter said container to bear against and be forced intothe lubricant contained therein, means for increasing the temperature ofsaid lubricant. at a pre-.

determined uniform rate, an electric motor for driving said plate intothe lubricant in said container, gearing between said motor and saidplate supporting means, means responsive the pressure exerted by saidplate on saidj labricant for periodically energizing said motor toadvance the plate to maintain a predetermined pressure between the plateand lubricant, and measuring means for indicating the rate of entry ofsaid plate into said lubricant, said measuring means comprising athreaded shaft rotated by said motor, an elongated electricalpotentiometer mounted in parallel relation to said shaft, a sliderthreaded to said' shaft and having sliding'electrical contact with saidpotentiometer, the rotation of said shaft by said motor causing saidslider to advance along and in contact with said potentiometer, and arecording device connected in circuit with said slider and saidpotentiometer and responsive to' the resistance of said potentiometer asvaried by the contact with said slider.

6. In a grease testing machine, a'container for a grease, a perforatedplate of substantially the same area and cross section as saidcontainer, movable supporting means for said plate arranged tainer tobear against and be forced through a grease contained therein, meansincluding an electric motor for driving said plate into said grease,means for increasing the temperature of said grease at a predetermineduniform rate, a

scale mechanism for continuously indicating the pressures exerted bysaid plate on said grease, said scale mechanism comprising a scale beampivotally supported at one end by a fixed bracket, a graduated scale, apointer associated with said scale,' connections between the other endof said beam and said pointer, connection between said grease containerand said scale beam, an electrical contact device mounted in the path ofsaid pointer'and connected in the circuit of said motor,

said contact device, being actuated when said pointer moves from apredetermined fixed position to close the said motor circuit so as toadvance said plate into the grease, thereby maintaining a predeterminedpressure between said plate and said grease as the grease becomessoftened due to the increasing temperature.

'7. In a grease testing apparatus in which a plunger is adapted to beforced into a cup containing a sample of a grease to be tested, anelectric motor for driving said plunger into said cup, mechanicalconnections between said motor and said plunger, said connectionsincluding a shaft driven by said motor, a second shaft, gearing betweensaid motor shaft and said second shaft, a

vertically disposed, longitudinally movable, nonrotatable screw, a rodattaching the upper end of said screw to said plunger, a rotatablesleeve surrounding and threaded to said screw, means for maintainingsaid screw in a fixed position with respect to its longitudinal axis, aworm and wheel connection between said sleeve and saidsecond shaft.comprising a worm wheel se-' cured to said sleeve and-a worm secured tosaid second shaft, and means for disengaging said worm and wheelconnection comprising an ec-, centric bearing for said second tachedthereto away from said worm wheel.

8. In a grease testing apparatus in which'a a I shaft and means a formanually turning said eccentric'bearing so ,as to move said second shaftand the worm atplunger is adapted to,be forced into a cup containing asample of the grease to be tested, said cup being mounted on a's'calemechanism for indicating the pressures exerted by said plunger on saidgrease, a heat insulated casing forming a chamber ,in which said plungerand said grease cup are mounted, a second casing enclosing said scalemechanism, means for electrically heating said chamber, an electric fanmounted in said cha' for circulating the air therein, a third casigforming an air chamber between said heat insulated casing and saidsecond casing, said third casing. being provided with openings throughwhich air may be drawn into said air chamber, an outlet conduitconnected to said air chamber and an exhaust fan connected to saidoutlet conduit, the arrangement being such that said exhaust fan willdraw air continuously into said air chamber through said openings andout of said air chamber through said conduit so as to prevent heat frombeingtra'nsferredfrom said first.mentionedchamber to the interior ofsaid second casing.

9. A grease testing machine comprising a plurality of heat insulatedwalls enclosing a heating chamber, a grease containing cup in saidchamber, a perforated plunger of substantially the same area and crosssection as said grease cup,

movable mounting means for said plunger, means for moving said plungerdownwardly into and through the grease in said cup at a uniform rate,means for heating said chamber comprising an electrical resistanceelement wound in the form of a spiral and mounted in the upper portionof said chamber, heat resistant elements for supporting said resistancespiral, an electric fan disposed within said resistance spiral, acylindrical wall depending from said heating element and intosaidcontainer through the grease contained therein, the periphery ofsaid plate being beveled to form a sharp edge so as to reduce'frictionbetween said plate and the interior surface of said container, and meansconnected to said container for indicating the'force exertedby saidplate on said grease. r

11. In a grease testing apparatus, a grease container comprising sidewalls, one open edge of said container being beveled to serve as a knifein cutting a sample of grease, a perforated plate of substantially thesame area and cross section as said container, means for forcing saidplate into said container through the grease contained therein, theperiphery of said plate being beveled to form a sharp edge so as toreduce friction between said plate and the interior surface of saidcontainer, a scale mechanism connected to said container for indicatingthe force exerted by said plate on said grease, and means for increasingthe temperature of the grease in said container at a predetermineduniform rate.

12. A grease testing machine comprising a plurality of heat insulatedwalls enclosing a heating chamber, -a grease containing c'up in saidchamber, a perforated plunger of substantially the same area and crosssection as said grease cup, movable mounting means for said plunger,means for moving said plunger downwardly into the grease in said cup,means for cooling said chamber, said means including a coil of tubingthrough which a refrigerating medium may be circulated, said tubingbeing mounted in the upper portion of said chamber, an electric fandisposed in the upper portion of said chamber, a cylindrical wallmounted vertically in said chamber and surrounding said plunger and saidgrease cup, the arrangement being such that rotation of said fan willforce air outwardly past said cooling coil, downwardly around theoutside of said cylindrical wall and then around said grease cup andupwardly through the interior of said wall.

'13. In a device of the class described, a receptacle adapted to containa plastic material to be tested, a perforated plate of substantially thesame cross section as the interior of said receptacle, means for forcingsaid plate into said receptacle through the plastic material containedtherein, the periphery of said plate being provided with a sharpenededge so as to reduce friction between said plate and the interiorsurface of the receptacle, and means connected to said receptacle forindicating the force exerted by said plate in passing through saidplastic material.

14. In a grease testing apparatus, a grease contain'er comprising sidewalls, one open edge of said grease.

PAUL MCJUNKIN.

